Washing-machine



(Model.) i 2sheets-,sheet 1.

` R. G. BALDWIN,

Washing Machin-e.

No.237, 465. v Patented Feb.8,1ss1;

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` (Model.)

No. 237,465. Patented Feb'. 8, 188|.

N. PETERS. 'FHOT0 UMOGRAPNER. WASHINGTON. D C.

' will enable others skilled in the art to which it` UNITED STATES.PATENT @trici-3.

RANSOM G. BALDWIN, 0F OSKALOOSA, IOWA.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 237,465, dated FebruaryS, 1881.

` Application ined December 11, 1880. (Model.)

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RANsoM G. BALDWIN, of Oskaloosa,in the county ofMahaska and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Washing-Machines; and I do hereby declare that thefollowingis a full, clear, and exact description of the invent-ion,which appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaecompan yin g drawings, which form a part of this specication, and inwhich- Figure l is a perspective inside view of the suds-box. Fig.2 is alongitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective viewof the operating mechanism. Fig. 4 is a similar view ot' the agitatorwith its clutch-plates. Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views ofrespectively the upper and under clutch-plate; and Fig. 7 is aperspective View of one corner of the removable tray, showing thechannels for draining the water from the tray.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspending parts in all thefigures.`

My invention has relation to rotary reciprocating washing-machines, orso-called agitator77 washing-machines and it consists in certainimprovements in the construction of the suds-box and in the device forattaching the agitator to the pinion-shaft, as hereinafter more fullydescribed,and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the annexed drawings, A represents the suds-box, which is, bypreference, rectangular in shape, and elevated upon suitable legs orsupports. (Not shown in the drawings.) In the bottom of the box is apiece of sheet-zinc," B, to prevent leakage, over which is placed awooden tray, C, made `with cleats a around its edges, by means of whichthe tray may be nailed to the sides of the suds-box. In each corner ofthe tray is a detachable board, D, set on edge, with its upper frontcorner cut ofi, as shownr iu the drawings. By making dovetailed groovesin each corner of the tray and dovetailing the under side of each of the,boards D these may readily be detached from and reinserted into thetray, as occasion requires. The two boardsD, at that end of the suds-boxwhere the outlet is arranged, are cut away, also at the corner whichimpinges upon stud, f, at each of its corners.

the box, as shown at d, Fig. 7 ,and the contiguous ends of `the cleats aare also cut oif, so as to form channels l), through which the water inthe box may find its way to the outlet; otherwise some of the water andsuds would eollect in the corners of the box without finding a readymeans ot' escape.

By the use of the tray C in the manner described the clothes do not comein con tact with 6o the zinc bottom, which is undesirable for thefollowing reason: If'the wooden bottom warps or the sides of the machineshrink in drying, the zinc bottom will bulge 0r be raised at places inan upward direction, so as to form creases or wrinkles. The dirt fromthe clothes and the rotaryr reciprocating motion of these over thebulged or corrugated zine bottom will soon cause this to be worn throughat the most exposed places, where the friction is greatest, 7o formingholes with jagged edges which will tear the clothes, and themaehine isuseless.

The wooden tray is easily cleaned after each washing, andthe'zinebottom, while eifectually preventing leakage, will last as long as anyother part of the machine.

The agitator consists of a wooden cross, E, with a'wooden peg, F,inserted into the end of each of its arms. It is secured upon the end ofthe pinion-shaft G, which is iiattened 8o on opposite sides by means ofan upper `and an under clutch-plate, shown respectively at H and I, theupper plate, H, being cast with lugs c c on its upper face, on oppositesides of the central aperture, e, for the insertion of the 8 5pinion-shaft, and with a downward-projecting The lower plate,

I, is of a similar shape and construction, but not so heavy, and is castwith four upwardprojecting corner-studs, g; nor has it lugs on 9o thesides of its central aperture, as the top plate. The combination ofthese two clutchplates with the agitator-cross and its pinionshaft willbe readily understood by reference to the drawings. The upperclutch-plate is rst inserted upon the shaft with its lugs c c bearin gagainst its attened sides. The cross E is then slipped upon the shaftwith its arms between the downward-projecting studs f, after which thebottom plate, I, is slipped upon Ioo the pinion and its studs g insertedinto the corners ot' the cross, after which it is screwed up against thecross and securely fastened by the nut K. The studs fg of respectivelythe upper and the lower clutch-plate are filed to such a height thatwhen the lower plate is screwed up home by the nut there will be anarrow space between the points of opposite studs-in other words, theydo not quite meet. These corner-studs of the two plates will effectuallyprevent displacement of the arms of the cross placed between them, andthe bottom platt-3,1, prevents wear and warping of the cross at thepoint where it is attached to the pinion-shaft, which is not the casewhere simply a nut and a washer are employed to hold the cross in itsplace'ilpon the clutch-plate H. The pinion-shaft is operated by apinion, L, whichmeshes with the cogged drive-wheel M. This wheel is castwith two radial sockets, m m, in a line with one another, either one ofwhich is adapted to receive the handle N, which is held rmly in place inits socket by a screw or nutted bolt, n, so that when the cogs on oneside of the drive-wheel are worn out those on the other half may bebrought into requisition by simply shifting the handle to the othersocket, and the wheel is as good as new.

In washing carpets or similar heavy and bulky articles the corner-boardsD are removed from the tray.

Iam well aware that it is not new in machines of this class to securethe agitator upon `its pinion-shaft by means of a studded plate havingtwo or more downwardprojecting studs, which (3o-operates with anordinary washer and nut on the under side of the agitator. By the.arrangement of an upper and a lower instead of a single studdedholdingplate, in the manner described, a web of wood is left untouchedby the studs in each corner of the agitator, inasmuch as opposite studsdo not meet each other. The lower studded plate, l, also effect-uallyprevents wear and warping of the middle part of the agitator, as I havealready pointed out Vin describing that part of my invention.

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesl. Ina rotary reciprocating washing-machine, the suds-box A, having a zincbottom, B, and wooden tra-y C, provided with the detachable corner wingsor boards D, as set forth.

2. In a rotary reciprocating washingmachine, the suds-box A, having azinc bottom, B, and wooden tray C, provided with the detachable cornerwings or boards D, cleats a, and channels b d, as set forth.

f 3. In a rotary reciprocating washingmachine, the combination, with theagitator and its pinion-shaft, of the upper studded holdingplate, H,lower studded holding-plate, I, and nut K, substantially in the mannerand for the purpose herein shown and specified.`

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

RANSOM G. BALDWIN.

Witnesses:

LoUIs BAGGER, AUGUST PETERSON.

